Salvia plant named ‘G13592’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Salvia  plant named ‘G13592’, characterized by its upright to somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit; vigorous growth habit; relatively large dark green-colored leaves; freely and continuous flowering habit; relatively large inflorescences with relatively large dark blue-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Salvia farinacea.

Cultivar denomination: ‘G13592’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Salvia plant, botanically known as Salvia farinacea and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘G13592’.

The new Salvia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Bellefonte, Pa. The objective of the breeding program is to create new vigorous Salvia plants with large flowers, long flowering period and good garden performance.

The new Salvia plant originated from an open-pollination in August, 2010 of a proprietary selection of Salvia farinacea identified as code number 13721, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection of Salvia farinacea, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Salvia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Bellefonte, Pa. on May 15, 2011.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by vegetative terminal cuttings in Bellefonte, Pa., since Oct. 21, 2011 has shown that the unique features of this new Salvia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Salvia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘G13592’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘G13592’ as a new and distinct Salvia plant:

-   -   1. Upright to somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Relatively large dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Freely and continuous flowering habit.     -   5. Relatively large inflorescences with relatively large dark         blue-colored flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Salvia can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Salvia differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Salvia are more vigorous than plants of the         female parent selection.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Salvia are darker green in color         than leaves of plants of the female parent selection.     -   3. Inflorescences of plants of the new Salvia are longer than         inflorescences of plants of the female parent selection.     -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Salvia are darker blue in color         than flowers of plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Salvia can be compared to plants of Salvia farinacea ‘Victoria Blue’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bellefonte, Pa., plants of the new Salvia differed from plants of ‘Victoria Blue’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Salvia were more uniform in growth habit         than plants of ‘Victoria Blue’.     -   2. Plants of the new Salvia were more vigorous than plants of         ‘Victoria Blue’.     -   3. Inflorescences of plants of the new Salvia were longer than         inflorescences of plants of ‘Victoria Blue’.     -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Salvia were larger and darker         blue in color than flowers of plants of ‘Victoria Blue’.     -   5. Plants of the new Salvia flowered for a longer period of time         than plants of ‘Victoria Blue’.

Plants of the new Salvia can also be compared to plants of Salvia farinacea ‘Salv Bule’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,625. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bellefonte, Pa., plants of the new Salvia differed from plants of ‘Salv Bule’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Salvia were more vigorous than plants of         ‘Salv Bule’.     -   2. Plants of the new Salvia were more outwardly spreading than         and not as upright as plants of ‘Salv Bule’.     -   3. Plants of the new Salvia flowered later than plants of ‘Salv         Bule’.     -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Salvia were larger than flowers         of plants of ‘Salv Bule’.     -   5. Plants of the new Salvia and ‘Salv Bule’ differed in flower         color as plants of ‘Salv Bule’ had violet blue-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Salvia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the actual colors of the new Salvia plant.

The photograph on the right side of the sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘G13592’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the left side of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘G13592’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the early spring in 11.5-cm containers in a polycarbonate-covered greenhouse in Bellefonte, Pa. and under cultural practices which closely approximate commercial production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 24° C. and night temperatures ranged from 13° C. to 16° C. Plants were pinched one time and were ten weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Salvia farinacea ‘G13592’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Salvia             farinacea identified as code number 13721, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Salvia             farinacea, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 10 to 14 days at             temperatures about 22° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 14 to 21 days at             temperatures about 22° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 56 days             at temperatures about 22° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 70 days             at temperatures about 22° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white to tan             in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial typically grown             as a container and garden plant; upright to somewhat             outwardly spreading plant habit; uniform and vigorous growth             habit; flowers arranged on erect terminal racemes.         -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching with about three to             four primary lateral branches each with many axillary shoots             developing per plant.         -   Plant height.—About 27.6 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 18.2 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 26 cm. Diameter:             About 4.5 mm. Internode length: About 1.8 cm. Strength:             Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright to outwardly. Texture:             Pubescent, minute. Color, developing: Close to 148A to 148B.             Color, developed: Close to 146A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 6.7 cm.         -   Width.—About 4.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate to elliptical.         -   Apex.—Broadly acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Towards the apex, broadly crenate; towards the base,             mostly entire.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Slightly pubescent, minute.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137C.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137B; venation,             close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 147B; venation, close to 147D.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 3.4 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent, minute. Color,             upper surface: Close to 146B. Color, lower surface: Close to             146D. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and shape.—Single bilabiate flowers             arranged on erect terminal racemes; racemes conical in             shape; freely flowering habit with about 146 flowers             developing per inflorescence; flowers face mostly outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about six             to eight weeks after planting; long flowering period,             flowering is continuous flowering from April to October in             Pennsylvania.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—Individual flowers last about             five days on the plant; inflorescences last about six to ten             weeks on the plant; flowers and inflorescences persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Shape: Elongated oval to oblong. Color: Close to 93B.         -   Inflorescence length.—About 5.8 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 3.7 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 1.2 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 1 cm.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base forming a             single upper banner petal (upper lip), two lateral petals             and two lower petals (broad lower lip). Lobe length, banner             petal: About 8 mm. Lobe length, lateral petals: About 4 mm.             Lobe length, lower petals: About 1.1 cm. Lobe width, banner             petal: About 4 mm. Lobe width, lateral petals: About 3 mm.             Lobe width, lower petals: About 1.2 cm. Shape, all petals:             Round. Apex, all petals: Round. Base, all petals: Fused into             a narrow tube. Margin, all petals: Mostly entire to slightly             sinuate. Texture, all petals, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous; velvety. Texture, all petals, lower surface:             Densely pubescent. Color, all petals: When opening, upper             surface: Close to 93A. When opening, lower surface: Close to             93C to 93D. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 93A to             93B; color does not fade with development. Fully opened,             lower surface: Close to 93C; towards the margins, close to             93A; color does not fade with development. Throat: Close to             93D and NN155B. Tube: Close to 92C to 92D.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: Five sepals completely fused to form a             campanulate calyx. Length: About 8 mm. Width: About 5 mm.             Apex: Emarginate. Texture, inner surface: Smooth, glabrous.             Texture, outer surface: Densely pubescent. Color, inner             surface: Close to 146B to 146C. Color, outer surface:             Slightly more grey than close to 97A to 97B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 11.5 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly erect. Texture: Densely             pubescent. Color: Close to 187C.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: Less than 1 mm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: Bending to horizontal. Texture:             Pubescent, minute. Color: Close to 195C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Two to             four. Filament length: About 6 mm. Filament color: Close to             92D. Anther shape: Oval. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther             color: Close to 199B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color:             Close to 162C. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil             length: About 1.8 cm. Stigma shape: Bi-parted. Stigma color:             Close to 92A. Style length: About 1 cm. Style color: Close             to 91D. Ovary color: Close to 151A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production has not been             observed on plants of the new Salvia. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Salvia have not been     noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Salvia     plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Salvia have exhibited good     garden performance and to be tolerant to rain, wind and temperatures     ranging from about 5° C. to about 35° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Salvia plant named ‘G13592’ as illustrated and described. 